Loan package valued at up to €80 million
“It is one of the smallest squads I’ve played in,” stated Harry Kane following Bayern Munich’s 2-1 victory over Stuttgart in the Franz-Beckenbauer Supercup. “There’s still time until the transfer window closes, but the decisions lie with [director of sport] Max [Eberl], [sporting director] Christoph [Freund], and the coach.” In response, the Bayern Munich leadership has decided to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea on loan with an option to buy, marking the largest loan deal in Bundesliga history.
The German club will pay a €15 million fee for Jackson’s loan over one season. For context, Bayern previously paid €13 million to loan Colombian star James Rodríguez for two years in 2017 and received €10 million to loan Mathys Tel to Tottenham. Chelsea’s preference was to sell Jackson, and the hefty loan fee made the agreement feasible. The terms also include a buy option priced at €65 million, which can be activated in the summer of 2026, potentially making Jackson the second most expensive signing in Bayern’s history, alongside Lucas Hernández.
Jackson joined Chelsea two years ago in a transfer worth €37 million from Villarreal, during which time he has netted 30 goals and provided 12 assists in 81 matches across all competitions. As a physically dominant forward, the striker from Senegal can play both centrally as a number 9 and on the wings. Bayern’s transfer window has been challenging, having missed out on Florian Wirtz (who went to Liverpool) and Nick Woltemade (who signed with Newcastle). Bayern also showed interest in Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who has now moved to AC Milan. Additionally, Kingsley Coman transferred to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, while Leroy Sané opted for a free exit to Galatasaray.
Record loan deal – The urgency behind Bayern Munich’s pursuit of Nicolas Jackson
In light of unsuccessful transfers and player exits, Bayern Munich’s squad has been trimmed to just 25 players, including four goalkeepers, along with youth talents Lennart Karl (17), Wisdom Mike (16), and Jonah Kusi-Asare (18). Moreover, both Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala are sidelined due to long-term injuries. Despite these setbacks, Freund and Eberl have been instructed to focus solely on short-term loan options, as the board aims to reserve funds for a significant transfer push next summer.
Finding a short-term fix has proven challenging until Jackson became available. The 24-year-old appears to be an ideal fit for Bayern Munich. With his ability to play on the wings, he offers head coach Vincent Kompany greater tactical flexibility. Most importantly, Jackson can pair with Kane or provide the England captain with essential rest in what is set to be a World Cup year. However, will this move be sufficient? Even with Jackson on board, the squad remains somewhat thin, but there is hope that one or two youth players will emerge significantly this season.
